Ebon Pyromancer

The third aspect of Nartheneen belief, Mother-Source, fell out of favor following the arrival of the Ebon Flame, a violent and corruptive deity. Some Nartheneen gave themselves completely over to this evil, surrendering body and soul in exchange for arcane power. Those who survived became ebon pyromancers, consumed completely by the whims and desires of their new master. No trace of their personality remains, and they exist only to destroy the enemies of the Nartheneen. Ebon pyromancers always have the head of a hawk, indicating their status as members of the Nartheneen elite.


EBON PYROMANCER

Medium aberration, neutral evil


Armor Class 22 (natural armor)
Hit Points 276 (24d8 + 168)
Speed 40 ft.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
18 (+4) 18 (+4) 24 (+7) 20 (+5) 22 (+6) 20 (+5)

Saving Throws Con +13, Int +11, Wis +12, Cha +11
Skills Arcana +17, History +17, Perception +18
Damage Resistances cold
Damage Immunities fire, radiant
Condition Immunities charmed, frightened
Senses truesight 60 ft., passive Perception 28
Languages Nartheneen
Challenge 17 (18,000 XP)


TRAITS

Born of Flames. Creatures cannot be resistant to fire damage dealt by the pyromancer, and the pyromancer is immune to damage it would deal to itself.

Motes of Netherplasm. Several of the ebon pyromancer’s abilities cause a mote of netherplasm to attach to a creature. An attached mote lasts until removed. When a creature starts its turn, it can choose to lose 20 hit points to remove a single mote of netherplasm attached to it. Casting greater restoration or more powerful magic removes all motes attached to the target. Motes have the following effects depending on the number attached to a creature, and the effects are cumulative.

  • 1 – The creature cannot have resistance or immunity to necrotic damage.
  • 2 – The creature has disadvantage on saving throws against the ebon pyromancer.
  • 3 – The creature becomes vulnerable to necrotic damage, and the ebon pyromancer has resistance to all damage from the creature.
  • 4+ – The creature automatically fails saving throws against the ebon pyromancer, and the ebon pyromancer automatically succeeds on saving throws against the creature.

Netherplasm Residue. When the ebon pyromancer starts its turn, creatures of its choice within 10 feet of it must succeed on a DC 21 Constitution saving throw or take 14 (4d6) necrotic damage and have a mote of netherplasm attach to it.


ACTIONS

Multiattack. The ebon pyromancer makes two Cloying Death attacks and uses All Shall Burn or Spread the Plague.

All Shall Burn (Recharge 5–6). The ebon pyromancer designates six points it can see within 120 feet of it, creating a 10-foot cube of dark flames centered on each point. The flames are opaque, and the area within is heavily obscured to all creatures other than the ebon pyromancer. Creatures that enter the area for the first time on a turn or start their turn there take 21 (6d6) fire damage. At the end of the ebon pyromancer’s next turn, the flames detonate. Each creature in the area must succeed on a DC 21 Dexterity saving throw or take 49 (14d6) fire damage and a mote of netherplasm attaches to it. A successful saving throw halves the damage.

Cloying Death. Ranged Spell Attack: +13 to hit, range 60 ft., one target. Hit: 22 (4d10) fire damage plus 11 (2d10) necrotic damage, and a mote of netherplasm attaches to the target.

Necrotizing Fireclaw. Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 29 (4d10 + 7) fire damage plus 11 (2d10) necrotic damage, and a mote of netherplasm attaches to the target.

Spread the Plague. The ebon pyromancer chooses a creature it can see within 60 feet of it that has at least one mote of netherplasm attached to it. Each other creature of the ebon pyromancer’s choice within 15 feet of the target has a mote of netherplasm attached to it.

Violent Detonation. All motes of netherplasm attached to creatures by the pyromancer erupt in necrotic energy. Each creature with at least one mote attached to it must succeed on a DC 21 Constitution saving throw or take 18 (4d8) necrotic damage per mote of netherplasm attached to it and suffer an additional effect based on how many motes were attached before detonation.

  • 1 – No additional effect.
  • 2 – The creature can take an action or bonus action on its next turn, but not both.
  • 3 – The creature is incapacitated until the end of its next turn.
  • 4+ – The creature is paralyzed until the end of its next turn.

A successful saving throw halves the damage, and the creature suffers an additional effect as though it had one fewer mote attached, down to a minimum of 1. Any motes of netherplasm attached to affected creatures are destroyed at the end of pyromancer’s turn.


Ref: TPKB1 p191